Concealable shelter building



B. BERMAN CONCEALABLE SHELTER BUILDING Nov. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 21, 1951 INVENTOR. BENJAMIN BERMAN 1954 B. BERMANCONCEALABLE SHELTER BUILDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1951INVENTOR. BENJAMIN DERMAM w f H,

' fi /FEM) United States Patent '0 2,693,620 CONCEALABLE SHELTERBUILDING Benjamin Berman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,819

7 Claims. (Cl. 20-1 This invention relates to a concealable building,and, more particularly, to a building adapted to be concealed beneaththe ground level in the event of an aerial or artillery bombardment, orof a Windstorm such as a hurricane or tornado.

One object of the invention is the provision of a structure for normallysupporting a building above the ground level but which is capable oflowering the building completely below the ground level.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means operative toprovide such a building with water, sewage and electrical facilities ineither of its positions.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means forcovering the building when the latter is in its underground position,the location of the building thus being camouflaged.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of the building support structure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure on line 2-2 lof Fig. l, witha building being indicated in dot-dash mes.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, andillustrates the sewage connections for the building.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. l andillustrates the water supply for the building.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the valvemeans for the water supply.

6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of 1g.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement of a portion of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the means forconcealing the building.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is the wiring diagram of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the means of the invention is adaptednormally to support a suitable building 10 at ground level and in theevent of an emergency to support the building below ground level. Asshown, the building 10 is fixed on a rectangular frame 11 which is madeup of rectilinear and diagonal beams 12 which preferably are of thesteel I type. Frame 11 is supported by four worms or screws 13 whichextend downward into a pit 14 having concrete walls 15. At their upperends the worms 13 are journalled in brackets 16 embedded in the wallsand at their lower ends are journalled in suitable bearing boxes 17. Thescrews, therefore, are adapted to rotate without moving axially. Eachworm 13 is located in a vertical groove or channel 18 at the center ofone of the walls 15 and is threaded through a block 20 secured centrallyto a side of frame 11 and projecting into said channel. It will beunderstood, however, that any number of worms may be provided.

The construction thus far described is such that rotating the worms 13in a common direction will raise or lower the frame 11 and the buildingsupported thereon. Thus, said building can be positioned above theground level or down in pit,14 entirely below ground level.

2,693,620 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 If desired, automatically removablesupports may be provided for frame 11 when the latter is in its upperposition although the utilization of the worms 13 obviates the needtherefor.

In order to rotate the worms 13, a sprocket wheel 21 is fixed on eachjust above the bearing box 17, said sprockets being engaged by anendless chain 22 which is driven by a sprocket 23 on the shaft of anelectric motor 24 mounted in the base of pit 14. 'Motor 24 preferably isof the type adapted to rotate in either direction under control ofsuitable switching means, so that the same may be utilized for bothraising and lowering frame 11. Of course, the chain drive may bereplaced by any other type if such is desired.

In order to provide an electric supply to building 10 in either of itspositions, a cable 25 extends downward from the building into pit 14 andat the base of the latter is wound on a spring loaded drum 26 adapted towind up the cable as building 10 is lowered. Drum 26 is pivotallysupported in brackets 27 and the end of cable 25 is electricallyconnected in any suitable manner with a cable 28 leading out of pit 14to a source of supply.

In order to provide Water supply for building 10 in either of itspositions, the following means is provided:

Secured beneath frame 11 near one corner thereof is a box-like unit 30having rounded upper and lower outer edges 31, see also Fig. 4. Mountedwithin unit 30 and projecting vertically therefrom to a suitable cutoffvalve 39 is a supply pipe 32 which by an elbow 33 is connected with asecond pipe 34 opening out of the outer face of the unit. Preferably theend of pipe 34 is flush with the outer face of said unit and isconcavely ground to form a seat 35, see also Fig. 5. The water supply"main 36 extends into the wall 15 adjacent unit 30 at the level of saidunit when frame 11 is in its upper position and is provided with anextension 37 which extends downward and into Wall 15 at a point suitablefor cooperation with said unit when the frame is in its lower position.The ends of mains 36 and 37 are embedded in the walls 15 and each hassecured thereon, see also Figs. 6 and 7, a tube 38 which extends out ofwall 15 in alignment with the end of pipe 34 of unit 30. Slidablymounted in the free end of tube 38 is a hollow piston 40 whose nose 41extends beyond the end of the tube and is convexly curved to fit theseat 35 of pipe 36. A suitably sized opening 42 is provided in nose 41.The base of piston 41 is provided with a plurality of openings 43 and atits center has fixed therein the reduced end of a rod 44. Rod 44 extendsinteriorly of aninternal annular ring or ridge 45 of tube 38 and hasfixed on its end a circular plate 46. A coiled spring 49 vtensions plate46 against ring45 and effectively prevents a flow of water from main 36or 37 into piston 40.

In order to make the plate 46 smaller and the openings 43 in piston 40larger to allow a maximum flow of water from pipe 36 or 37 into piston40 when said plate is moved away from ring 45, said ring tapers indiametral thickness as indicated at 47. Thus, the opening surrounded bythe ring increases in diameter as it extends toward piston 40.

The construction is such that normally the piston 40 is in its projectedposition with the plate 46 blocking a flow of water from main 36 or 37.However, as frame 11 is raised or lowered, the rounded upper or loweredge 31 engages the curved nose 41 of piston 40 and earns the latterinto tube 38. This frees plate 46 from ring 45 and a flow of water intopiston 40 is permitted. Immediately following the camming of piston 40,the rounded nose thereof snaps into the seat 35 of pipe 34 and a watersupply connection is completed. It is believed obvious that theconnection is equally effective for either position of building 10.Valve 39 is, of course, utilized to prevent a back flow of water frombuilding 10 while the same is being raised or lowered.

In order to provide sewage facilities for building 10 a waste pipe 48 isconnected to a suitable sewer or cesspool and extends into a wall 15 attwo vertically spaced positions. The two branches of waste pipe 48 areprovided with connecting valve means identical with those in the end ofeach last said pipe, a tube secured on the end of each waste and eachwater pipe and projecting into said pit, a piston slidably mounted ineach tube and having a rounded nose adapted to a said seat, an openingin said nose, a plurality of openings in the base of the piston, a rodprojecting from the base of the piston, a.

circular plate at the end of said rod, an internal annular ring in saidtube, a spring to press said plate against said ring, and rounded upperand lower ends on each said unit to cam the associated said pistons intosaid tubes to disengage said plates from said rings as the said frame ismoved to its upper and lower positions; and circuit means to energizesaid motors for raising and lowering the frame and for opening andclosing the cover, said circuit means being effective to raise saidframe only when said cover is completely open, and to close said coveronly when said frame is at the bottom of the pit, and comprising adouble pole double throw switch located in the building to energize saidmotors in reverse directions, normally closed contacts situated to beopened by said frame and said cover as they reach their terminalpositions, the opening of said contacts deenergizing the motors, anormally open contact in the cover motor circuit adapted to be closed assaid frame reaches its lowest position, and a normally open contact inthe frame motor circuit situated to be closed as said cover reaches itsfully open position.

4. Concealable building construction which includes a walled pit, ahorizontal frame mounted in said pit and adapted to support a building,vertical worms on which said frame is supported for up and downmovements, driving means for said worms including a reversible electricmotor, a sliding cover for said pit, side beams for said cover havingeach a bottom flange, a longitudinal groove in each said bottom flange,a plurality of cups imbedded in the top of the pit side walls, a ballbearing journalably mounted in each said cup and adapted to engage in asaid groove to facilitate and guide sliding movements of the cover, areversible electric motor for opening and closing said cover, connectingvalve means for supply water and separate connecting valve means forsewage facilities to said building when the frame is at the top of thepit and also when the frame is at the bottom of the pit, and circuitmeans to energize said motors for raising and lowering the frame and foropening and closing the cover, said circuit means being eflective toraise said frame only when said cover is completely open, and to closesaid cover only when said frame is at the bottom of the pit.

5. Concealable building construction which includes a walled pit, ahorizontal frame mounted in said pit and adapted to support a building,vertical worms on which said frame is supported for up and downmovements, driving means for said worms including a reversible electricmotor, a sliding cover for said pit, side beams for said cover havingeach a bottom flange, a longitudinal groove in each said bottom flange,a plurality of cups imbedded in the top of the pit side walls, a ballbearing journalably mounted in each said cup and adapted to engage in asaid groove to facilitate and guide sliding movements of the cover, areversible electric motor for opening and closing said cover, connectingvalve means for supply water and separate connecting valve means forsewage facilities to said building when the frame is at the top of thepit and also when the frame is at the bottom of the pit, comprisingupper and lower Water supply pipes extending into a pit wall, upper andlower Waste pipes extending into another pit wall, a box-like unitsecured to said frame for association with said waste pipes, anotherunit for cooperation with the water pipes, a pipe secured in each saidunit for cooperation with the associated waste or water pipes, a concaveseat in the end of each last said pipe, a tube secured on the end ofeach waste and each water pipe and projecting into said pit, a pistonslidably mounted in each tube and having a rounded nose adapted to asaid seat, an opening in said nose, a plurality of openings in the baseof the piston, a rod projecting from the base of the piston, a circularplate at the end of said rod, an internal annular ring in said tube, aspring to press said plate against said ring, and rounded upper andlower ends on each said unit to cam the associated said pistons intosaid tubes to disengage said plates from said rings as 6 the said frameismoved to its upper andlower positions; and circuitmeans to energizesaid motors for raising and lowering the frame and for opening andclosing the cover, said circuit meansbeing effective to raise said frameonly when said cover is completely open, and to close saidcover onlywhen said frame is at the bottom of the pit.

6. Concealable building construction which includes a walled pit, ahorizontal frame mounted in said pit and adapted'to support abuilding,vertical worms on which said frame is supported for up and downmovements, driving means for said worms including a reversible electricmotor, a sliding cover for said pit, side beams for said cover havingeach a bottom flange, a longitudinal groove in each said bottom flange,a plurality of cups imbedded in the top of the pit side walls, a ballbearing journalably mounted in each said cup and adapted to engage in asaid groove to facilitate and guide sliding movements of the cover, areversible electric motor for opening and closing said cover, connectingvalve means for supply water and separate connecting valve means forsewage facilities to said building when the frame is at the top of thepit and also when the frame is at the bottom of the pit, comprisingupper and lower water supply pipes extending into a pit wall, upper andlower waste pipes extending into another pit wall, a box-like unitsecured to said frame for association with said waste pipes, anotherunit for cooperation with the water pipes, a pipe secured in each saidunit for cooperation with the associated waste or water pipes, a concaveseat in the end of each last said pipe, a tube secured on the end ofeach waste and each water pipe and projecting into said pit, a pistonslidably mounted in each tube and having a rounded nose adapted to asaid seat, an opening in said nose, a plurality of openings in the baseof the piston, a rod projecting from the base of the piston, a circularplate at the end of said rod, an internal annular ring in said tube, aspring to press sa1d plate against said ring, and rounded upper andlower ends on each said unit to cam the associated said pistons intosa1d tubes to disengage said plates from said rings as the sa1d frame ismoved to its upper and lower positions; and ClICIllt means to energizesaid motors for raising and lowering the frame and for opening andclosing the cover, sa1d circuit means being effective to raise saidframe only when said cover is completely open, and to close said coveronly when said frame is at the bottom of the pit, and compr sing adouble pole double throw switch located in the building to energize saidmotors in reverse directions, normally closed contacts situated to beopened by said frame and sa1d cover as they reach their terminalpositions, the opening of said motors, a normally open contact in thecover motor circuit adapted to be closed as said frame reaches itslowest posit on, and a normally open contact in the frame motor circuitsituated to be closed as said cover reaches its fully open position.

7. Concealable building construction which includes 'a walled pit, ahorizontal frame mounted in said pit and adapted to support a building,vertical worms on which saidframe is supported for up and downmovements, driving means for said worms including a reversible electr1 cmotor, a sliding cover for said pit, side beams for sa1d cover havingeach a bottom flange, a longitudinal groove in each said bottom flange,a plurality of cups imbedded 1n the top of the pit side walls, a ballbearing ournalably mounted in each said cup and adapted to engage m asa1d groove to facilitate and guide sliding movements of the cover, areversible electric motor for openmg and closing said cover, connectingvalve means for supply water and separate connecting valve means forsewage facilities to said building when the frame is at the top of thepit and also when the frame is at the bottom of the pit, and circuitmeans to energize said motors for ralsmg and lowering the frame and foropening and closing the cover, said circuit means being effective toraise sa1d frameonly when said cover is completely open gnttit tocloste]:1 said cover only when said frame is at the o om o e pit, andcomprisin a double throw switch located in the bui lding to er iig' gizg s id motors in reverse directions, normally closed contacts situatedto be opened by said frame and said cover as they reach themtermmalpositions, the opening of said contacts deenerglzmg the motors, anormally open contact 1n the cover motor circuit adapted to be closed assa1d frame reaches its lowest position, and a normally contactsdeenergizing the l

